November 8, 2022 • 36 mins
The NFL Power Rankings podcast with Dan Hanzus and Steve Wyche begins focusing on the Buffalo Bills loss to the New York Jets - is this still the year for the Bills? Later, Steve explains why Dan has the Miami Dolphins too low in his rankings and then the guys discuss what the victory over the Bills means for the Jets, if the Seahawks are a legitimate threat, what's wrong with Rodgers and the Packers, and how quickly the Chicago Bears can turn things around.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
NFL Power Rankings is a production of the NFL in
partnership with I Heart Radio. Hello and welcome to the
NFL Power Rankings, presented by Energizer. I'm Dan hansis joined
by a very special guest this week, Steve Wish, the
(00:25):
Conscience of NFL Media. I'm so glad to be back.
I mean, I think the special guesting needs to do.
You know, I'm a regular. Now you are, it's you
know what, your family, your family on a t N
and now in the Power Ranks podcast, Connie's not here
because Colleen Wolf is in Germany ostensibly working. I don't
know right now, it just seems like she's having a
great time. Not jealous, not upset about it. It's it
(00:45):
is what it is. It is what it is. You know,
should come back with stories for you so you can
live like curiously. That's great. Stories are always better than
lived in human experiences. The Power Rankings, and I want
to say before we get into the first quadrant, Steve,
I've noticed, um in a in a week where the
bills went down and we had to shift at the
top of the Power Ranks, I've noticed, really I put
(01:06):
some distance between the other Power rankings in the NFL
media sphere. It feels like mine are just so much
better now that all the other competitors that it's getting
a little like awkward almost. I mean, I haven't seen
the other list, but you're clearly light years ahead. And
here's what I said. What did I say to you
when I first came in here. I really liked your
list because you're battling of victories over last week versus
(01:28):
projections moving forward depth that Yeah, the people and my
mentions get it though. Oh yeah, they're those deep Those
are deep people. They're not the powers standings of the
power rankings. And speaking of Colleen, well, she had a
take from Germany. I'm being told on the Power ranks
this week. I have not heard it, but let's check
(01:48):
in with Connie Fox. Dan Dan Dan, Dan, Dan Dan.
What a weekend the Jets. They did it. God, I'm
just so happy. This is great. I mean, like it's
cool for the Jets of New York and all um
and like you that's great, congrats, But really for me,
I'm happy for me, and I'm happy for the Eagles
(02:10):
because calear path to number one in the rankings and
you really have no choice about it now, so I
might not be there to hold you accountable, but I
know that you'll do the right thing. And if not,
even though I'm in Germany, the game is not until
next Sunday, so I can fly home and agg your
house or just send all of the clowns there. But
(02:32):
I know that this is an easy choice for you.
So this is great for all of us. A win win.
And she's the Philly girl, Steve. She would kick my
ass if I do not put the Eagles everyone, so
I will the Philadelphia Eagles. Let's look at the first
quadrant here. Yes, they're undefeated, and uh yeah, just like
everyone else are a lot of people. I was drinking
(02:53):
the Bills cool a that they were just to step ahead,
but then they took a step back. So the Eagles,
with no losses halfway through the season, are the number
one team, followed by the Bills, who dropped one spot.
We'll keep an eye on the josh al An elbow situation, Steve.
The Chiefs at number three, they stay there. The Cowboys
stay at four on their bye week. I got the
Ravens up one spot after a great showing on Monday
(03:13):
night in New Orleans. The Niners out of buy go
down a spot. Tough spot for them, but it is
what it is. Vikings stay at seven despite being seven
and one, and the Titans after that narrow loss and
Arrowhead stay at eight. I keep them there. Where do
you want to start? Steve Willis started number two and
you bring up a good point when it comes to
the Bills a great and only did they lose to
the Jets. But the Josh Allen elbow thing, when you
(03:33):
hear about ulnar nerve, that's a serious thing. I've known
to people who have had surgery for that, and I
mean it's it's it's really a tough battle. You go
through to the towards feeling, towards grip and things like that.
Kansas City, to me, I could see you sliding them
up intoto flip flopping. Those two teams and Bills are
still among the league's elite. But the Chiefs pulling out
that type of effort, it gets a team that has
(03:54):
owned them over the past four years. Uh in Tennessee.
You know, I think that's an interesting you know, I
thought about I thought about it, and uh, you know,
the Allen thing is so big because obviously if we
get news between now and their next game. Uh, Alan
did miss four games earlier in his career in a
(04:15):
season with a similar elbow issues, So you hope, actually
you almost hope, like, well, you hope he's fine. But
then it's like, as long as it's not like we're
not talking Tommy John surgery or anything like that, because
that would be such a devastating situation for a Buffalo
fan base. This still feels like the year. And I
just thought with with the Bills, um, the Jets match
up well against them in terms of their defense and
(04:37):
the way they can cover in the secondary of course
a Sauce Gardner leading the way, and the way they
could get pressure without blitzing with their front four. So
that is something that's interesting looking forward in this division.
Uh with or without Josh Allen, well, this division is
absolutely bananas right now. I mean, the Patriots are in
the last place with a winning record. So if Josh
Allen is offer an extended period of time for as
(04:58):
much as we thought the Bills were gonna go ahead
and moonwalk into the playoffs as a division winner, that's
you know case Keenum like them very serviceable back up.
But you just say, Miami's right, there, the Jets are
right there and the Patriots are right there. It could
end up be being a tough sledding for the Bills
of Josh Allen is out for a while. We'll get
(05:19):
to the Jets and Dolphins a little bit later, but
let's talk a little bit about the Chiefs, um or
get into it a little bit more, because I thought
that the game against Sunday uh game on Sunday Night
was a gut check for them UM at home prime time.
We know mahomes record in such situations, Ryan Tannehill scratch
at the ankle, and yet they find themselves with their
(05:40):
back against the wall, and on a on a night
where Mahomes through sixty eight passes, Steve it was his
legs that saved the day in that and gut check
is the absolutely right word. I mean, if pat Patrick
Mahomes was not the magician that if they lose this
ball game you talked about, you know, you know how
the Jets match up well against the Bills. The Titans
clearly match up well against the Chiefs. I think they
(06:01):
beat him the last four regular season times that they've
played UM and Mahomes had to be incredible. But I
also like the way the Chiefs defense responded. Now it's
easier with Malik Willis or rookie and just a second start,
knowing he's not really that much of a threat to
pass it. But Derrick Henry was running all over in
the first half. They found a way to get going
defensively in the second half. This is a Steve Spagnola defense.
(06:21):
Second half of the season, they tend to get better
and better and better. That's why I like Kansas City
moving forward, especially with the way their division foes are
kind of falling along the wayside as well. I thought
it was a little bit interesting. Of course, this has
been a season of transition in Kansas City with Tyreek
Hill now in Miami. Clyde Edwards Zilaire, who started out
fast this season, played of their snaps in their first
(06:43):
game out of this by So this might be Jerck
McKinnon's backfield moving forward. They're still tinkering with the model
halfway through the season. Yeah, McKinnon, Pacheco and you see
and Juju Smith Schuster really starting to emerge, that possession
guy tough. Kind of one bet to Kelsey in the
middle of the field of what the Chiefs are doing
That's why Andy Reid is so great. He can consistently
evolve no matter what part of the season it is. Yeah,
(07:05):
that is such a huge advantage. Now let's talk about
the Vikings fans. And uh again, I just said it.
It's it's the power rankings, not the power standings. And
yet I do understand the fact that I have, for instance,
this seven and one Vikings behind the four and four
forty Niners. I should explain myself, and I guess I
just have to say. Week after week, I'm watching this
(07:28):
team and I have so much respect for their ability
to close out games and win. But I don't come
out of these wins by the Vikings feeling like I'm
seeing a powerhouse team that I'm watching a seven and
one team. Um, and so I kind of just stuck
him at seven and kept him there. And they have
a big matchup against the Bills. Am I not mistaken
(07:48):
on this? And now they might not even get Josh
Allen in that game, and it's just like I want
to know more about Minnesota. I want to see him
get punched in the mouth like the Eagles did back
in Week two and see how they react. But for now,
they're taking care of business, and I do respect that,
but I find it hard to move them. Steve, I
just he should you can punch him in the mouth,
I mean now, but it's you might see Taylor heinekeiller.
So that's true because the Commanders punched him in the mouth.
(08:12):
You know. I was kind of like you when it
came to the Vikings, but I'm like, you know what,
the more I see them in the abundance of weapons
that they have, that's why you win close games. NFL
games are close week to week, but you've gotta have
playmakers to make plays at the end. Kirk Cousins seems different.
They're clearly a different team with Dalvin Cook is playing
the way that he's playing now, this defense is coming
around a little bit um and to put him behind
(08:33):
the forty Niners. So let me ask you this, Do
you think the forty Niners are really that dominant or
are you projecting because Eli Mitchell and everybody's coming back
to join Christian McCaffrey. Because the Niners two of those
four wins have come against the Rams, who they beat. Anyway,
that sway you because I'm like the not because I'm like,
I really like the Niners where they're headed projection wise,
(08:55):
but in terms of overall wins, they beat the Rams
that that's what they do. They beat them twice or
are they really that good they always beat them? Yeah,
there's definitely some projection in there, and some and what
they've done um in the past cooked in and the
idea of what what we saw the last time they
played before the bye, with McCaffrey finding an immediate role
UM in this offense, well, she knew he was gonna
(09:18):
have a role, but to have the hat trick performance there,
and now you trade Jeff Wilson, but yes, Elijah Mitchell
comes back. That's a great back then. Oh my god,
you have obviously uh with Debo leading the way at
wide receiver, Um, you have a nice and George Kittle
that's a that's a really nice combo there. And I
just kind of trust their defense and it all to
(09:38):
come together for them too. I'd still predict them to
win the division. So that's why I have them ahead
of the Seattle Seahawks as well. I'm in still I'm
all the way clearly clearly. Yeah, I Seattle, they're doing
nothing to just and they're making me believers I'm buying in, Um,
we can get to the when we see you've got them, uh,
you know, ranked down a little bit lower, but just
(09:59):
a forty nine. Are interesting to me because I'm with you.
I think they're gonna be a very very good team,
but there not there yet. I would move them down
and frankly, like you know, you've got the Vikings at seven,
I might move them up. But there's a team a
little bit lower in this poll. You got a number twelve.
I think you're sitting way too low. I would probably
(10:21):
put them at that six or seven spot. And that's
the Miami Dolphins. I mean with two in there, they're
winning ball games. Yeah, they had to go toe to
toe with a Chicago team that's emerging a little bit.
But when I look at them head to head, Um,
you know you said you're not sure about the Vikings.
Do you think the Vikings Miami head to head? I
(10:42):
see the Vikings team. I can't get a handle on that.
The Titans beat Miami head to head, I don't think so.
Do the Jets beat Miami head to head? They have? Okay,
all right, let's take a look at the second quarter.
(11:03):
Let's features the Dolphins. We have the Jets at number nine,
up five spots after beating the Bills, Seahawks at number ten,
the Bengals at eleven. Then the Dolphins stay it uh
twelve after their narrow win over the Bears, Giants on
their by thirteen, Patriots at fourteen, Chargers up up one
to fifteen, and the Bucks sneak back into the first
(11:25):
half of the league the power rankings with their narrow
win there at sixteen. UM. I do have legitimate concerns
about Miami's defense. The offense is better than I could
have ever imagined. I know some people thought this could happen.
I had my doubts. I know, uh you covered tah
extensively leading up to the draft, and I know um
(11:46):
that he is really surprised a lot of people, myself included,
about how well he's fit in with his offense. But
when they go and they trade for Bradley Chub, to me,
that was an acknowledgment. We're a little worried about our defense.
We're gonna get a first round pick because we we
feel like we need a little more juice, and they
couldn't get a stop against Chicago, and I just wonder
if that's gonna be kind of their Achilles heal that
(12:07):
they're going to score points every week, but the week
where they do come down to earth offensively, the defense
is gonna let him down. And not too often though
you're gonna play a quarterback is dynamic as justin fields.
I mean, he he was just absolutely amazing. What do
you run for a hundred seventy eight yards or something?
I mean he he was absolutely amazing. Okay, so Josh
Allen in their division, maybe, but you know, maybe Patrick Mahomes. Okay,
(12:30):
we think we already hear. The Chiefs are probably a
better team, but when you look at the overall AFC
teams are not going to face quarterbacks Lamar Lamar Jackson.
I mean, what he's doing right now is absolutely insane.
In the Ravens to me our team. But when you
finish this up there, you've got him at five. They're
probably gonna be a top two or three team. They
are really playing well defensively now as well. But I
(12:51):
I think Bradley Chubb's gonna help them. They need someone
who could win one on one on the edge. They've
been doing as a collective for three years and it's
and it's work. But not so much now, got a
little bit more health in the secondary. But I just
think Miami's a team is going to continue to get better. Yeah,
and they're fun to why and you know Tyreek Hill
and and Waddle. Now it's you just take it for granted.
Week after week they go twelve for two and two
(13:12):
touchdowns against Chicago And when you think about it, Steve
that really you know, obviously super unfortunate, fortunate head injury
UH suffered by to cost him about a month of
playing time. If he would have stayed healthy, they're probably
on pace to set records this year. And that's how
good this offense has been. Yeah, I mean, look, you're
throwing a Kaseki year in the red zone. He's he's
been fantastic, and that the running game is starting to
(13:33):
open up. You're seeing where he most art being able
to start to do some things. And if he gets
going with the speed that he has UH and the
way that they tanned him up in the backfield, they're
gonna be a really tough team. Just because of the
variety we're seeing in teams like Kansas City. You mentioned
the forty nine is a variety of weapons when you
come to close games. That's usually the difference maker. UM.
(13:54):
Can we talk to my jets a little bit? Let's um. Obviously,
last week's lost was so disappointing against the Patriots, and
mostly because you knew after Breecee Hall went down, after
Elijah Vera Tucker went down, there would be more on
Zack Wilson to step up, and he didn't. UM. So
what what I saw against the Bills was a complete
(14:14):
team effort. And it wasn't Zach Wilson bawling out and
me being like, okay, we're gonna be okay. It's a
wait and see for me on Zach, but the fact
that the entire team kind of played their best game
of the year and it was beautifully coached by Sala.
I just feel really confident for the first time in
years about this team, as you should. I mean, that
defensive front is real. I mean you and I said
this a couple of weeks ago. They are reminding show
(14:36):
me so much of the Niners. When the Niners are
rolling in en right, the quarterback play, There's gonna be
some games where you're gonna have to run it or
find manufactured pointing to quarterbacks going for dred fifty yards
or less. But I'll tell you what Zack Wilson showed
me stomach that he didn't show the week before against
the Patriots. He bounced back against a bad play and really,
you know, down on the red zone, some of the
performances and some of the leadership he showed. Highly impressed
(14:59):
with that character treat Now, if you continue to build
on that with some of the other things that they
have going on, I mean, already know that there are nuisance,
right you don't want to play them. You finished playing
the Jets, You're like, oh my god, man, I gotta
go home in the ice tub and everything like that.
But again, they're right there. That's what I'm saying this, Josh,
I don't they with the Bills, right, the Jets can
slip right in there if he's got to sit out
(15:20):
for and the Dolphins and Jets are are just a
half game behind, both of them having beaten the Bills
already this season. I think it was really um for me,
especially exciting that in the tie game in the late
in the fourth quarter, about midway through the fourth quarter,
they get the ball at the four yard line, the Jets,
and they run the ball and that was my What
(15:40):
was so crushing to me about Breece Hall is like,
if you have a offensive rookie of your stud in
Breece Hall, with this defense and the quarterback making some plays,
you can start having real dreams. And I thought maybe
I had to lower expectations about the Jets, and maybe
I still do. But their ability to run at eight
straight times right into the red zone and set up
that go ahead field goal, that was incredibly important to
(16:01):
show this team with a makeshift offensive line that they
could do that in that type of spot. And it
takes a pressure off the quarterback and now and now,
so when you get the defense biting up on the
run and then then he can make a play like
when he leaked out on that scramble and things like that,
you know, his mobility helps. This is the one thing
to talking to so many people in the NFL with
all these defenses playing the too high safety and things
(16:22):
like that, if you have a mobile quarterback, it takes
things away from that type of scheme. Right, it's all
in numbers versus numbers thing, and you've got a quarterback
who can run that you've got to account for. That helps.
So Zach Wilson's mobility. We saw it in this game.
To see him run more, it was great. It's great
to see him do that instead of some of those
you know, five pirouettes behind the offensive line and then
(16:43):
throwing it up for grabs. Uh. It's time now, Steve
for power moves presented by Energizer telling me about the Seahawks.
What are you seeing right now? I mean, first off,
the defense is coming together. I mean, you know when
this got here. Tyler Lockett, my god, he's Gino and
Tyler have a good relationship. Now we're saying O Chenna
and Nwosu, the USC guys who couldn't get into the
(17:03):
rotation as a pass rusher with the Chargers because they
had Melvin Ingram and they had Joey Bows so he
was an occasional guy. Seven sacks now, right, they're starting
to overwhelm quarterbacks and you put them in passing situations
and Gino and the rest of the crew those tight
ends that they have up there. This is the Seahawks
in a legion of boom Era. This is what they
(17:24):
did and it's working. And we thought the game passed.
Pete kiro Bay He's like, no, I'm still here in
my method works because I can get my guys to
play hard. You know, I know you said, do you
like the Niners to win the divisions? Did? I? But
the Seattle Seahawks are not gonna make it easy the
way they're playing, in the confidence that they're building, and
you know, it's it's shocking to me still, but I'm
I'm starting to process a world where Gino Smith is
(17:46):
actually a legit QB one, What a great story. It's
it's an it's an amazing story. I'm really I want
to see how it plays out because I finally I
find him to be a charismatic dude also, and you
just he likes to talk, and I feel like this
is gonna be a nice adventure no matter how it ends.
I think we're gonna get a lot of good content
out of Gino in terms of entertainment value. And but
(18:08):
he can't sleep on like even when he has his issues,
which have been very few bumps in the road this year,
but he throws that pick six, he's right back at
b and he you know, he throws the game winning
touchdown pass. And I just think that this the Seahawks
team is so balanced and a month ago. They were
on a historically bad pace defensively, and Pete took care
(18:29):
of that. I mean, I think that's the players Pete
Hurt and Keneth Walker to run the ball too. I
mean again, they're playing like they were back in there
in the early team. So there you're NFC West champion.
I still like the Niners. I do you know when
they get debo and they get back to full strength
as you here's coming back on defensive linebacker to add
to already great linebacker group. Um, if they can get
(18:49):
healthy and stay healthy, I like them. With Seattle, Seattle
was a playoff team. Okay, they are playoffs graybe at
the division winner, but they're a playoff team. All right,
we're just getting started here on the Power Ranking Show.
We've done the first two quadrants. Now we talked about
the back half of the league where it's a little
messy but still fun to talk about coming up next.
(19:22):
All right, welcome back to Power Rankings presented by Energizer.
Let's look at the third quadrant. You got the Atlanta
Falcons up one spot to seventeen, Rams down three after
another painful loss to eighteen. The Browns at nineteen Saints
down three spots. I kind of thought they were gonna
make a play, and they didn't show up on Monday night.
(19:43):
So they're down three to twenty. Bears up three spots
despite the loss uh to one, the Packers down three
to two, Cardinals down one to twenty three, are hard
to watch. And the Raiders, Man, it's not happening for
the Raiders this year. There at um Steve we're talking
about during the break just now. It's been for me anyway,
destabilizing as a fan experience for the NFL to have
(20:06):
the Bucks at sixteen, to have the Rams at eighteen,
to have the Packers at twenty two, these teams that
we just expected to be there in January, it's not happening. Look,
the Bucks are a division leader and they're there, and
they are legitimately, legitimately a sixteen, and I would say
they actually belonged lower. But the teams behind them, it's
not good. But but you know, you talk about the Buccaneers,
(20:28):
maybe that rally they had to beat the Rams at
the end of the game gets them going. We'll see
their play the Seahawks and Munich, but they were terrible
offensively that whole game. They were horrible. There so hard
to watch an offense. I mean it's it's brutal, but
defensively vida villa the way they got going. But again
they're playing a ram team. They can't block anybody. Um
the Packers, I mean, honestly, do you do you say
(20:51):
like maybe they can get rolling, like maybe they can
click three in a row. I think for me, the
light went off this week because everything was so set
up for them to get healthy in Detroit. Detroit has
the worst defense of the league statistically, and Rogers has
killed the Lions throughout his career. Was just like, Okay,
this was gonna be the game where they roll up
four hundred and thirty yards, score thirty points, they get
(21:14):
the losing streak out of their building, and they could
kind of start spinning forward. For the game to play
out the way it did, and for Rogers to flop
the way he did, it just makes me think like,
this is not gonna happen. And I also wonder, just
what's the what are the vibes in that building? Um?
Is it? Are we gonna read some profile piece um
after the season about you know, really bad communication and
(21:36):
and um, some disagreements behind the scenes. It just feels
like a bad set up in Green Bay. So I'm
out on the Packers that I'm with. You. Look, I
think this is where you know, Aaron bagging on the
young wide receivers. It works early in the season, it
works in training camp, but the fact he was continue
to bag on them and then the cavalry is not
coming right. You know, you didn't go out and get anybody.
This is who you have to play with, and you've
(21:57):
been crushing these guys all season. At some point they're like, Okay,
I gotta step up, I gotta earn my next contract
or whatever. But it's it is not going in the
way the defense was playing for a while and now
they've got gaps for the year. You know they now
they're gonna miss it. Arias Smith he's in Minnesota killing
it right now. Um I I just don't see them
(22:18):
being able to go on a type of run they
need to make to be to get into the playoffs.
You can't go out in the media and say you
gotta cut reps for guys and then throw to red
zone interceptions like he did, like and then throw three
overall and miss open guys all game. This is a
guy and it's weird Steve, because I'm watching the game
on Sunday and it's like he's still moving like Aaron Rodgers.
(22:38):
You see them some beautiful touch passes, and then he'll
just dirt balls or just miss a wide open deep
guy by under throwing and by three yards. He played
one of the worst games of his career in a
huge spot for that team. But unt like Josh Allen,
he didn't come to the podium and say, you know,
I played like Duki Emoji. You know that's something I
think you said. I never gave up. Well, great, Hey
(22:59):
what about the Rams should they give up? Well, they're
not gonna give up. I mean, it's not on their character.
They're defending Super Bowl Chane. They give up at the
end of that game after Jalen Ramsey gets sent back
on the field. The defense that that defensive scheming and
and just some of the efforts you saw where they're
giving up ten yard chunks when the when the Bucks
get the ball back with four or four seconds left,
Like what are you doing? Like you guys have stone
(23:20):
walled them all game and you're giving twelve an opportunity.
We've seen this before. Look at this. I mean, kay
Dotton was wide open, too easy, and then you allow
him to get up and get even additional yards. Now
you're don't you're not protecting the sidelines to the getting
out of bounds, you're playing twenty yards off of them.
Then you get the d p I, which is a
legit d p I, and then you play the run.
(23:42):
They're playing the run. They had no time out. Why
are you playing the run? And the Bucks haven't been
able to run the ball all the year, all game
they saw Bradies the quarterback. It's like, I don't. I'm
just wondering where, like the mental side and the physical
side where their lapses on both ends. And then when
Jalen Ramsey after the game speaks to that frustration about
we got the stop, we need some help get that's
(24:05):
another team where you wonder what's going on in the
locker room at this point, what's going on behind the scenes,
because this is the defensive Super Bowl champion that week
after week is getting pants and you say to yourself, Okay,
they're gonna get there, gonna show that metal of the
defending champion. Like you know, we're seeing the Bengals who
took the l they're starting to find themselves right with
despite all their offensive line issues which their Rams have.
(24:26):
Was despite some defensive lapses which the Rams have, They're
finding themselves whereas the Rams seemed to be coming apart.
I mean, this was an incredible opportunity. They had eight
three and ounce Bobby Wagner blocks a field goal in
the middle of the field where you can open up
your offense, and they go three and out. I mean,
and it is painful. It's not three yards in a
cloud of gust. It is one yard in a cloud
(24:47):
of nothing because there's no physicality involved. They're gonna screen
you to death because they're not trying anything downfield. Because
if you get that Matt Stafford is not gonna get protected,
which he didn't. You can't block it up. Vita Villa
look like the ground player in the world in that game.
Um So they have some issues and and you have
to ask yourself, can they can they rip off three
(25:08):
or four straight wins like you know, like you're gonna
need to do at some point, and you just don't know.
You just don't see them coming together like they need
to pull something. I remember this time around last year,
a lot of people were putting them underground when they
were in a slump and staff November he really struggled UM,
and they went and won the Super Bowl. I saw
a tweet out there. I wish I could remember who
(25:29):
set it out because I like the line the Rams
bought their title on credit. But now the bill has
come due. That's strong, that's strong, but both the bill
has come due now, it seems um. Let's talk about
in a year that's been defined in some part by
um bad quarterback play where you didn't expect it. Let's
suck justin fields. Let's tuck a field good story at
(25:50):
the quarterback position. It's unbelievable what he's doing week after week. Well,
look gets you. The offensive coordinator and a lot of
people told me coming in like this guy is really
really good, right, and you're starting to see him understand
the strength of his quarterback, the strength of his offensive line,
and the strength of the rest of the team. So
let's become the Baltimore Ravens. Let's do some things with
the blocking team where we're moving guys all over the place.
(26:11):
We can get justin fields to run behind them. We're
getting defenses and positions now where they've got to account
for him and away justin Fields can pull it back
and rip it. No one can question his throwing ability.
He can rip it. He was the top player coming
out of high school. You know, we saw the things
he did in college. But now they're tight ending him
right Cole Commet, they're doing some very creative things here
(26:32):
in the pocket. Now he just steps up boom. Look
at the strength right here, slips the tackle slips, the
tackle slips the tackle speed. Look at that. I mean,
the acceleration is insane and you're seeing Lamar Jackson, except
he's probably a little bit stronger, maybe not that much,
and he just let that ball go. His confidence right now. Um,
with the way they're playing, even though they lost to
(26:52):
the Dolphins, it is It is fun to see a
coach get to his quarterback and get to the offense
and to make it happen instead of trying to fit,
you know, a square peg into a round hole. The
issue is defensively, trade away your two best defensive players.
You know, Miami's gonna score thirty on everybody, but can
you hold up to support him on that side of
(27:12):
the ball. Yeah, And I think especially part of what
makes it a great story is that things did not
start out well this year, and there were questions like
is Fields coming along here? Is this gonna be a
thing that works? And now there's no question he is
the future and and looks like a guy that profiles
as a potential superstar and look out. So the Bears
obviously blew it up, blew up their defense. They're building
(27:33):
for tomorrow. But if they have a nice offseason, they
can get good real quick. And I'm talking maybe not,
but maybe they're a flying the ointment for teams this year,
but watch out in that division next year if they
make the right moves. Because Fields, you can build around
this dude. Lowing in Miami. You bringing the right coach,
he works at the quarterback, You get him going. You
fix the pieces on on defense because you've got some
(27:53):
ability to do so. I I completely agree with you.
Let's talk Raiders real quick, just because it's just a wild,
wild scene. Um, I don't know. I'm sure you saw it.
Car his comments after the game, he gave the old
there are things I want to say to you right now,
but I can't say to you. I need to talk inside,
all right, what what what are your vibes about this team?
(28:17):
Because blowing three seventeen point leads in one season and
it's not even close to Thanksgiving. Did you see the
stat they had five in the history of the organization
blowing three seventeen point leads and three this year. Here's
here's all I have to say, and I want to
people to process this last year, with everything they went through, injuries,
(28:37):
John Cruden getting fired, coaching change, they showed they had
the guts to overcome adversity. They showed they had a
talent to win ballgames. You were a playoff team last
year after everything could not have looked more of just
a five alarm fire. The nucleus of the team is
the same, and you add Davante Adams, who's not a
disruptive guy. Okay, So to me, the players have the
(29:02):
mental fortitude to be able to get through this. So
whatever Josh McDaniels and that staff has done, be it
schematic tweaks or whatever the way they're calling a ballgame,
that's the issue. And DeVante Adams came out and it
look how aggressive we were in the first half. Let
me call a different game in the second half, and
you saw what happened. So now you've got the players
not trusting in what's going on. You know, the old
(29:25):
saint don't ever say it can't get worse, because it
always came right. And we can ask the Indiapolis cold
to that. And I can understand Adam's specifically his frustration
because I think he was seven for one, six and
two in the first half and then he had one
catch for zero yards in the second. That said. You
could say schematics and all that, but if you watched
the game, you know you did. Steve car missed. He
(29:46):
missed so many throws in those lasting quarters, including several
to Davante Adams, it would have been a totally different game.
And that's that's part of this too. And I'm just wondering,
and you're as plugged in as anyone, Steve, like, is
there anything whispers out there? We've heard the oh Josh
is running late for his press comments because he has
to meet with the own or twice. Now, do you
think there's a hot seat here for No, there's no
(30:09):
way marks you to do that that that quickly, He'll
let McDaniels change up this roster and do whatever he
has to do on the coaching staff. If he's gonna
do anything before he blows him out about at the
quarterback position. I can't see it, but you never know.
You never know. Here's the other I'm just thinking in
the offseason, there's gonna be a lot more teams needing
quarterbacks than there were this year, and we saw the
(30:29):
type of movement because you know, Brady's probably really gonna retire.
Maybe Aaron Rodger steps away, so there's gonna be some
more teams involved. Who knows who they could even get
with that salary cap situation they have because of contracts.
You know who's enjoying this probably Rich How's how's that
working on in Green Bay for him? Though I don't think.
(30:50):
I don't think he's enjoying a whole lot right now.
Maybe he's not enjoying anything at all. Is anyone enjoying
anything in this NFL season? Let's check out Quad four
before we sign off. The Commanders, Man, they love Taylor Heineke.
They're channing is Aim and I don't quite get it,
but they like they are. They are twenty five. They
stay at five UM despite the loss. The Broncos stay
(31:12):
at twenty six, Jags up three spots, the twenty seven
Steelers down one. Uh on their by to eight lions
up to finally got that dub Cults down to to
thirty and they're down a head coach, but up an
analyst that's also in the head of the head coach.
The Texans up one out of the out of the
basement with the somewhat of a spirited effort on Thursday night,
(31:34):
and the Panthers listen, when you fall behind forty two
nothing um kind of tough sledding. It's it's probably gonna
be a bad situation for you when it comes power
rankings time. Let's start with the lines, will start with
the good and then we'll hit the mad um. Very nice.
It's just fun watching those postgame uh celebrations in the
locker room and in general to beat the Packers as well.
(31:56):
I was happy for the hard knocks lines. Yeah, I mean, look, offensively,
they're super fun to watch. But then you see defensively, um,
you know, for them to come up and make the
stops they make. I mean, we can we can blame
Aaron Rodgers for a lot of it, but defensively they
showed up. I mean this interception here, Hutchinson reads it beautifully.
Rogers throws you know five feet short on it, um,
(32:17):
But to see them come on and play like list.
I mean, they just fired a very good, very popular
dB coach and Aubrey Pleasant and I thought, like, man,
the players are not going to respond well to this,
and for them to give that type of effort in
this opponent, you'd love to see it again. You just
don't know if they can win two games here loose
one win three games Derek the rest of the way,
I'd like to see the springboard because one thing that
(32:38):
would kind of depress me because Connie and I did
the Hard Knocks podcast and UM in general followed this team,
and I just would like them to get to a
point where the season ends similar to last year, at
this point where they win about half their games, they're competitive,
and then we're not talking in January on Black Monday
about who's Dan Campbell gonna survive, Like, let's just let's
(32:59):
have some progress, let's build off something next year, and
then if it doesn't work after next year, then you
make a check. I think he makes it regardless, Um,
all right, the Frank Wrek didn't make it. Oh God,
what's your take on this whole thing? So not only
does Jimmer say it's kind of a maverick in the
owner ranks, and how he thinks it's one thing to
to fire your coach in the middle of the season,
(33:20):
it's another to bring in an old buddy who's a
team consultant who's working over in Connecticut and make him
your head coach in the middle of the year and
have a whole press conference and the whole thing. What
was your vibe on that. Let's look at the old
secret to events. I mean, okay, Matt, Matt Ryan, let go.
You fire the O C. Marcus Brady Um who doesn't
(33:41):
call plays, who basically orchestrates the practices, and me, you
fire him, right, things get worse. You put in a
rookie quarterback Sam Ailinger, right, Okay, So now, Frank Wreck,
we know he's on the green mile, so you you
make it, you make you make it a green you
make it a green football field, and you get rid
of him. But then you go outside. Okay, you've got
no play caller, you've got no quarterback developer. Oh and
(34:04):
then he said, we're gonna play the rookie. Still, We're
still gonna play him instead of Nick Foles or somebody. Well,
we've got no, what you bring in Jeff Shaturday, who
I love. I mean, I know Jeff personally, I love him.
This is nothing on him. The opportunity was here, He's like, okay,
I'll help you get to the first pick next year.
Because to me, that's what it looks like is going on.
How do you think John Fox and Gus Bradley and
anyone in that building fields right now? Like what I mean,
(34:26):
the wheels are falling off. Okay, we can see you
going outside the building and bringing Jim calledwell right, bringing
somebody who can calm things down, who we all respect,
who can call place and get a former player. Oh,
by the way, Reggie Wayne's on staff. You could have
go had him. I've seen a lot of crazy things
in the NFL, and this is sliding into the top
(34:47):
three or four. Yeah it is. There is that kind
of like um Al Davis type renegade vibe going on here,
like I'm not gonna do what everyone else does and
I need somebody could trust in this very vulnerable moment
for the organization. But you're right, there are a lot
of good, successful uh men on that coaching staff that
have to be like, I gotta get the hell out
of here. Oh yeah, and there's still you know, half
(35:09):
a season to go. And oh, by the way, they
have what three wins, they're not completely out of it
in that division. And but then the worst part is
when they say, you know, you have to play Ellinger
at the quarterback, and you feel bad for him now
because you've got no one there to develop him. You've
got no one. He's being put in a situation that's
gonna be absolutely tough for him playing Nick Foles. Just
(35:29):
go ahead and let him at least try to bring
some stability to an offense. It's right now. I just
you know, they're not playing well anyway, but you're putting
this You're putting this young guy in a horrible, horrible position.
It has just got to be so dispiriting in that
locker room and in that building. I don't I don't
know what Mercy is doing other than maybe pacifying his
(35:50):
own feelings. So now we have an owner being hands
on a football decisions. Very strange times, uh. In Indianapolis
and really in the whole of the NFL, it's been
a very kind of bizarre season. Hell, my Jets are
on the top ten of the power rings. Let's that
tell you about the unreal nature of this season. Steve,
You've said it all and you once again have pinched
(36:11):
hit for Colleen and just I mean we're talking five
and eight feet five ninety left center field bleachers, I'm
trying to do. I love your list, on your list,
You're You're the man. Colleen will be back next week.
Thank you for listening and watching along Heed the Call
(36:41):
NFL Power Rankings as a production of the NFL in
partnership with I heart Radio. For more podcasts from my
Heart Radio, visit the i heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts,
or wherever you get your podcasts.
NFL Power Rankings is a production of the NFL in
partnership with I Heart Radio. Hello and welcome to the
NFL Power Rankings, presented by Energizer. I'm Dan hansis joined
by a very special guest this week, Steve Wish, the
(00:25):
Conscience of NFL Media. I'm so glad to be back.
I mean, I think the special guesting needs to do.
You know, I'm a regular. Now you are, it's you
know what, your family, your family on a t N
and now in the Power Ranks podcast, Connie's not here
because Colleen Wolf is in Germany ostensibly working. I don't
know right now, it just seems like she's having a
great time. Not jealous, not upset about it. It's it
(00:45):
is what it is. It is what it is. You know,
should come back with stories for you so you can
live like curiously. That's great. Stories are always better than
lived in human experiences. The Power Rankings, and I want
to say before we get into the first quadrant, Steve,
I've noticed, um in a in a week where the
bills went down and we had to shift at the
top of the Power Ranks, I've noticed, really I put
(01:06):
some distance between the other Power rankings in the NFL
media sphere. It feels like mine are just so much
better now that all the other competitors that it's getting
a little like awkward almost. I mean, I haven't seen
the other list, but you're clearly light years ahead. And
here's what I said. What did I say to you
when I first came in here. I really liked your
list because you're battling of victories over last week versus
(01:28):
projections moving forward depth that Yeah, the people and my
mentions get it though. Oh yeah, they're those deep Those
are deep people. They're not the powers standings of the
power rankings. And speaking of Colleen, well, she had a
take from Germany. I'm being told on the Power ranks
this week. I have not heard it, but let's check
(01:48):
in with Connie Fox. Dan Dan Dan, Dan, Dan Dan.
What a weekend the Jets. They did it. God, I'm
just so happy. This is great. I mean, like it's
cool for the Jets of New York and all um
and like you that's great, congrats, But really for me,
I'm happy for me, and I'm happy for the Eagles
(02:10):
because calear path to number one in the rankings and
you really have no choice about it now, so I
might not be there to hold you accountable, but I
know that you'll do the right thing. And if not,
even though I'm in Germany, the game is not until
next Sunday, so I can fly home and agg your
house or just send all of the clowns there. But
(02:32):
I know that this is an easy choice for you.
So this is great for all of us. A win win.
And she's the Philly girl, Steve. She would kick my
ass if I do not put the Eagles everyone, so
I will the Philadelphia Eagles. Let's look at the first
quadrant here. Yes, they're undefeated, and uh yeah, just like
everyone else are a lot of people. I was drinking
(02:53):
the Bills cool a that they were just to step ahead,
but then they took a step back. So the Eagles,
with no losses halfway through the season, are the number
one team, followed by the Bills, who dropped one spot.
We'll keep an eye on the josh al An elbow situation, Steve.
The Chiefs at number three, they stay there. The Cowboys
stay at four on their bye week. I got the
Ravens up one spot after a great showing on Monday
(03:13):
night in New Orleans. The Niners out of buy go
down a spot. Tough spot for them, but it is
what it is. Vikings stay at seven despite being seven
and one, and the Titans after that narrow loss and
Arrowhead stay at eight. I keep them there. Where do
you want to start? Steve Willis started number two and
you bring up a good point when it comes to
the Bills a great and only did they lose to
the Jets. But the Josh Allen elbow thing, when you
(03:33):
hear about ulnar nerve, that's a serious thing. I've known
to people who have had surgery for that, and I
mean it's it's it's really a tough battle. You go
through to the towards feeling, towards grip and things like that.
Kansas City, to me, I could see you sliding them
up intoto flip flopping. Those two teams and Bills are
still among the league's elite. But the Chiefs pulling out
that type of effort, it gets a team that has
(03:54):
owned them over the past four years. Uh in Tennessee.
You know, I think that's an interesting you know, I
thought about I thought about it, and uh, you know,
the Allen thing is so big because obviously if we
get news between now and their next game. Uh, Alan
did miss four games earlier in his career in a
(04:15):
season with a similar elbow issues, So you hope, actually
you almost hope, like, well, you hope he's fine. But
then it's like, as long as it's not like we're
not talking Tommy John surgery or anything like that, because
that would be such a devastating situation for a Buffalo
fan base. This still feels like the year. And I
just thought with with the Bills, um, the Jets match
up well against them in terms of their defense and
(04:37):
the way they can cover in the secondary of course
a Sauce Gardner leading the way, and the way they
could get pressure without blitzing with their front four. So
that is something that's interesting looking forward in this division.
Uh with or without Josh Allen, well, this division is
absolutely bananas right now. I mean, the Patriots are in
the last place with a winning record. So if Josh
Allen is offer an extended period of time for as
(04:58):
much as we thought the Bills were gonna go ahead
and moonwalk into the playoffs as a division winner, that's
you know case Keenum like them very serviceable back up.
But you just say, Miami's right, there, the Jets are
right there and the Patriots are right there. It could
end up be being a tough sledding for the Bills
of Josh Allen is out for a while. We'll get
(05:19):
to the Jets and Dolphins a little bit later, but
let's talk a little bit about the Chiefs, um or
get into it a little bit more, because I thought
that the game against Sunday uh game on Sunday Night
was a gut check for them UM at home prime time.
We know mahomes record in such situations, Ryan Tannehill scratch
at the ankle, and yet they find themselves with their
(05:40):
back against the wall, and on a on a night
where Mahomes through sixty eight passes, Steve it was his
legs that saved the day in that and gut check
is the absolutely right word. I mean, if pat Patrick
Mahomes was not the magician that if they lose this
ball game you talked about, you know, you know how
the Jets match up well against the Bills. The Titans
clearly match up well against the Chiefs. I think they
(06:01):
beat him the last four regular season times that they've
played UM and Mahomes had to be incredible. But I
also like the way the Chiefs defense responded. Now it's
easier with Malik Willis or rookie and just a second start,
knowing he's not really that much of a threat to
pass it. But Derrick Henry was running all over in
the first half. They found a way to get going
defensively in the second half. This is a Steve Spagnola defense.
(06:21):
Second half of the season, they tend to get better
and better and better. That's why I like Kansas City
moving forward, especially with the way their division foes are
kind of falling along the wayside as well. I thought
it was a little bit interesting. Of course, this has
been a season of transition in Kansas City with Tyreek
Hill now in Miami. Clyde Edwards Zilaire, who started out
fast this season, played of their snaps in their first
(06:43):
game out of this by So this might be Jerck
McKinnon's backfield moving forward. They're still tinkering with the model
halfway through the season. Yeah, McKinnon, Pacheco and you see
and Juju Smith Schuster really starting to emerge, that possession
guy tough. Kind of one bet to Kelsey in the
middle of the field of what the Chiefs are doing
That's why Andy Reid is so great. He can consistently
evolve no matter what part of the season it is. Yeah,
(07:05):
that is such a huge advantage. Now let's talk about
the Vikings fans. And uh again, I just said it.
It's it's the power rankings, not the power standings. And
yet I do understand the fact that I have, for instance,
this seven and one Vikings behind the four and four
forty Niners. I should explain myself, and I guess I
just have to say. Week after week, I'm watching this
(07:28):
team and I have so much respect for their ability
to close out games and win. But I don't come
out of these wins by the Vikings feeling like I'm
seeing a powerhouse team that I'm watching a seven and
one team. Um, and so I kind of just stuck
him at seven and kept him there. And they have
a big matchup against the Bills. Am I not mistaken
(07:48):
on this? And now they might not even get Josh
Allen in that game, and it's just like I want
to know more about Minnesota. I want to see him
get punched in the mouth like the Eagles did back
in Week two and see how they react. But for now,
they're taking care of business, and I do respect that,
but I find it hard to move them. Steve, I
just he should you can punch him in the mouth,
I mean now, but it's you might see Taylor heinekeiller.
So that's true because the Commanders punched him in the mouth.
(08:12):
You know. I was kind of like you when it
came to the Vikings, but I'm like, you know what,
the more I see them in the abundance of weapons
that they have, that's why you win close games. NFL
games are close week to week, but you've gotta have
playmakers to make plays at the end. Kirk Cousins seems different.
They're clearly a different team with Dalvin Cook is playing
the way that he's playing now, this defense is coming
around a little bit um and to put him behind
(08:33):
the forty Niners. So let me ask you this, Do
you think the forty Niners are really that dominant or
are you projecting because Eli Mitchell and everybody's coming back
to join Christian McCaffrey. Because the Niners two of those
four wins have come against the Rams, who they beat. Anyway,
that sway you because I'm like the not because I'm like,
I really like the Niners where they're headed projection wise,
(08:55):
but in terms of overall wins, they beat the Rams
that that's what they do. They beat them twice or
are they really that good they always beat them? Yeah,
there's definitely some projection in there, and some and what
they've done um in the past cooked in and the
idea of what what we saw the last time they
played before the bye, with McCaffrey finding an immediate role
UM in this offense, well, she knew he was gonna
(09:18):
have a role, but to have the hat trick performance there,
and now you trade Jeff Wilson, but yes, Elijah Mitchell
comes back. That's a great back then. Oh my god,
you have obviously uh with Debo leading the way at
wide receiver, Um, you have a nice and George Kittle
that's a that's a really nice combo there. And I
just kind of trust their defense and it all to
(09:38):
come together for them too. I'd still predict them to
win the division. So that's why I have them ahead
of the Seattle Seahawks as well. I'm in still I'm
all the way clearly clearly. Yeah, I Seattle, they're doing
nothing to just and they're making me believers I'm buying in, Um,
we can get to the when we see you've got them, uh,
you know, ranked down a little bit lower, but just
(09:59):
a forty nine. Are interesting to me because I'm with you.
I think they're gonna be a very very good team,
but there not there yet. I would move them down
and frankly, like you know, you've got the Vikings at seven,
I might move them up. But there's a team a
little bit lower in this poll. You got a number twelve.
I think you're sitting way too low. I would probably
(10:21):
put them at that six or seven spot. And that's
the Miami Dolphins. I mean with two in there, they're
winning ball games. Yeah, they had to go toe to
toe with a Chicago team that's emerging a little bit.
But when I look at them head to head, Um,
you know you said you're not sure about the Vikings.
Do you think the Vikings Miami head to head? I
(10:42):
see the Vikings team. I can't get a handle on that.
The Titans beat Miami head to head, I don't think so.
Do the Jets beat Miami head to head? They have? Okay,
all right, let's take a look at the second quarter.
(11:03):
Let's features the Dolphins. We have the Jets at number nine,
up five spots after beating the Bills, Seahawks at number ten,
the Bengals at eleven. Then the Dolphins stay it uh
twelve after their narrow win over the Bears, Giants on
their by thirteen, Patriots at fourteen, Chargers up up one
to fifteen, and the Bucks sneak back into the first
(11:25):
half of the league the power rankings with their narrow
win there at sixteen. UM. I do have legitimate concerns
about Miami's defense. The offense is better than I could
have ever imagined. I know some people thought this could happen.
I had my doubts. I know, uh you covered tah
extensively leading up to the draft, and I know um
(11:46):
that he is really surprised a lot of people, myself included,
about how well he's fit in with his offense. But
when they go and they trade for Bradley Chub, to me,
that was an acknowledgment. We're a little worried about our defense.
We're gonna get a first round pick because we we
feel like we need a little more juice, and they
couldn't get a stop against Chicago, and I just wonder
if that's gonna be kind of their Achilles heal that
(12:07):
they're going to score points every week, but the week
where they do come down to earth offensively, the defense
is gonna let him down. And not too often though
you're gonna play a quarterback is dynamic as justin fields.
I mean, he he was just absolutely amazing. What do
you run for a hundred seventy eight yards or something?
I mean he he was absolutely amazing. Okay, so Josh
Allen in their division, maybe, but you know, maybe Patrick Mahomes. Okay,
(12:30):
we think we already hear. The Chiefs are probably a
better team, but when you look at the overall AFC
teams are not going to face quarterbacks Lamar Lamar Jackson.
I mean, what he's doing right now is absolutely insane.
In the Ravens to me our team. But when you
finish this up there, you've got him at five. They're
probably gonna be a top two or three team. They
are really playing well defensively now as well. But I
(12:51):
I think Bradley Chubb's gonna help them. They need someone
who could win one on one on the edge. They've
been doing as a collective for three years and it's
and it's work. But not so much now, got a
little bit more health in the secondary. But I just
think Miami's a team is going to continue to get better. Yeah,
and they're fun to why and you know Tyreek Hill
and and Waddle. Now it's you just take it for granted.
Week after week they go twelve for two and two
(13:12):
touchdowns against Chicago And when you think about it, Steve
that really you know, obviously super unfortunate, fortunate head injury
UH suffered by to cost him about a month of
playing time. If he would have stayed healthy, they're probably
on pace to set records this year. And that's how
good this offense has been. Yeah, I mean, look, you're
throwing a Kaseki year in the red zone. He's he's
been fantastic, and that the running game is starting to
(13:33):
open up. You're seeing where he most art being able
to start to do some things. And if he gets
going with the speed that he has UH and the
way that they tanned him up in the backfield, they're
gonna be a really tough team. Just because of the
variety we're seeing in teams like Kansas City. You mentioned
the forty nine is a variety of weapons when you
come to close games. That's usually the difference maker. UM.
(13:54):
Can we talk to my jets a little bit? Let's um. Obviously,
last week's lost was so disappointing against the Patriots, and
mostly because you knew after Breecee Hall went down, after
Elijah Vera Tucker went down, there would be more on
Zack Wilson to step up, and he didn't. UM. So
what what I saw against the Bills was a complete
(14:14):
team effort. And it wasn't Zach Wilson bawling out and
me being like, okay, we're gonna be okay. It's a
wait and see for me on Zach, but the fact
that the entire team kind of played their best game
of the year and it was beautifully coached by Sala.
I just feel really confident for the first time in
years about this team, as you should. I mean, that
defensive front is real. I mean you and I said
this a couple of weeks ago. They are reminding show
(14:36):
me so much of the Niners. When the Niners are
rolling in en right, the quarterback play, There's gonna be
some games where you're gonna have to run it or
find manufactured pointing to quarterbacks going for dred fifty yards
or less. But I'll tell you what Zack Wilson showed
me stomach that he didn't show the week before against
the Patriots. He bounced back against a bad play and really,
you know, down on the red zone, some of the
performances and some of the leadership he showed. Highly impressed
(14:59):
with that character treat Now, if you continue to build
on that with some of the other things that they
have going on, I mean, already know that there are nuisance,
right you don't want to play them. You finished playing
the Jets, You're like, oh my god, man, I gotta
go home in the ice tub and everything like that.
But again, they're right there. That's what I'm saying this, Josh,
I don't they with the Bills, right, the Jets can
slip right in there if he's got to sit out
(15:20):
for and the Dolphins and Jets are are just a
half game behind, both of them having beaten the Bills
already this season. I think it was really um for me,
especially exciting that in the tie game in the late
in the fourth quarter, about midway through the fourth quarter,
they get the ball at the four yard line, the Jets,
and they run the ball and that was my What
(15:40):
was so crushing to me about Breece Hall is like,
if you have a offensive rookie of your stud in
Breece Hall, with this defense and the quarterback making some plays,
you can start having real dreams. And I thought maybe
I had to lower expectations about the Jets, and maybe
I still do. But their ability to run at eight
straight times right into the red zone and set up
that go ahead field goal, that was incredibly important to
(16:01):
show this team with a makeshift offensive line that they
could do that in that type of spot. And it
takes a pressure off the quarterback and now and now,
so when you get the defense biting up on the
run and then then he can make a play like
when he leaked out on that scramble and things like that,
you know, his mobility helps. This is the one thing
to talking to so many people in the NFL with
all these defenses playing the too high safety and things
(16:22):
like that, if you have a mobile quarterback, it takes
things away from that type of scheme. Right, it's all
in numbers versus numbers thing, and you've got a quarterback
who can run that you've got to account for. That helps.
So Zach Wilson's mobility. We saw it in this game.
To see him run more, it was great. It's great
to see him do that instead of some of those
you know, five pirouettes behind the offensive line and then
(16:43):
throwing it up for grabs. Uh. It's time now, Steve
for power moves presented by Energizer telling me about the Seahawks.
What are you seeing right now? I mean, first off,
the defense is coming together. I mean, you know when
this got here. Tyler Lockett, my god, he's Gino and
Tyler have a good relationship. Now we're saying O Chenna
and Nwosu, the USC guys who couldn't get into the
(17:03):
rotation as a pass rusher with the Chargers because they
had Melvin Ingram and they had Joey Bows so he
was an occasional guy. Seven sacks now, right, they're starting
to overwhelm quarterbacks and you put them in passing situations
and Gino and the rest of the crew those tight
ends that they have up there. This is the Seahawks
in a legion of boom Era. This is what they
(17:24):
did and it's working. And we thought the game passed.
Pete kiro Bay He's like, no, I'm still here in
my method works because I can get my guys to
play hard. You know, I know you said, do you
like the Niners to win the divisions? Did? I? But
the Seattle Seahawks are not gonna make it easy the
way they're playing, in the confidence that they're building, and
you know, it's it's shocking to me still, but I'm
I'm starting to process a world where Gino Smith is
(17:46):
actually a legit QB one, What a great story. It's
it's an it's an amazing story. I'm really I want
to see how it plays out because I finally I
find him to be a charismatic dude also, and you
just he likes to talk, and I feel like this
is gonna be a nice adventure no matter how it ends.
I think we're gonna get a lot of good content
out of Gino in terms of entertainment value. And but
(18:08):
he can't sleep on like even when he has his issues,
which have been very few bumps in the road this year,
but he throws that pick six, he's right back at
b and he you know, he throws the game winning
touchdown pass. And I just think that this the Seahawks
team is so balanced and a month ago. They were
on a historically bad pace defensively, and Pete took care
(18:29):
of that. I mean, I think that's the players Pete
Hurt and Keneth Walker to run the ball too. I
mean again, they're playing like they were back in there
in the early team. So there you're NFC West champion.
I still like the Niners. I do you know when
they get debo and they get back to full strength
as you here's coming back on defensive linebacker to add
to already great linebacker group. Um, if they can get
(18:49):
healthy and stay healthy, I like them. With Seattle, Seattle
was a playoff team. Okay, they are playoffs graybe at
the division winner, but they're a playoff team. All right,
we're just getting started here on the Power Ranking Show.
We've done the first two quadrants. Now we talked about
the back half of the league where it's a little
messy but still fun to talk about coming up next.
(19:22):
All right, welcome back to Power Rankings presented by Energizer.
Let's look at the third quadrant. You got the Atlanta
Falcons up one spot to seventeen, Rams down three after
another painful loss to eighteen. The Browns at nineteen Saints
down three spots. I kind of thought they were gonna
make a play, and they didn't show up on Monday night.
(19:43):
So they're down three to twenty. Bears up three spots
despite the loss uh to one, the Packers down three
to two, Cardinals down one to twenty three, are hard
to watch. And the Raiders, Man, it's not happening for
the Raiders this year. There at um Steve we're talking
about during the break just now. It's been for me anyway,
destabilizing as a fan experience for the NFL to have
(20:06):
the Bucks at sixteen, to have the Rams at eighteen,
to have the Packers at twenty two, these teams that
we just expected to be there in January, it's not happening. Look,
the Bucks are a division leader and they're there, and
they are legitimately, legitimately a sixteen, and I would say
they actually belonged lower. But the teams behind them, it's
not good. But but you know, you talk about the Buccaneers,
(20:28):
maybe that rally they had to beat the Rams at
the end of the game gets them going. We'll see
their play the Seahawks and Munich, but they were terrible
offensively that whole game. They were horrible. There so hard
to watch an offense. I mean it's it's brutal, but
defensively vida villa the way they got going. But again
they're playing a ram team. They can't block anybody. Um
the Packers, I mean, honestly, do you do you say
(20:51):
like maybe they can get rolling, like maybe they can
click three in a row. I think for me, the
light went off this week because everything was so set
up for them to get healthy in Detroit. Detroit has
the worst defense of the league statistically, and Rogers has
killed the Lions throughout his career. Was just like, Okay,
this was gonna be the game where they roll up
four hundred and thirty yards, score thirty points, they get
(21:14):
the losing streak out of their building, and they could
kind of start spinning forward. For the game to play
out the way it did, and for Rogers to flop
the way he did, it just makes me think like,
this is not gonna happen. And I also wonder, just
what's the what are the vibes in that building? Um?
Is it? Are we gonna read some profile piece um
after the season about you know, really bad communication and
(21:36):
and um, some disagreements behind the scenes. It just feels
like a bad set up in Green Bay. So I'm
out on the Packers that I'm with. You. Look, I
think this is where you know, Aaron bagging on the
young wide receivers. It works early in the season, it
works in training camp, but the fact he was continue
to bag on them and then the cavalry is not
coming right. You know, you didn't go out and get anybody.
This is who you have to play with, and you've
(21:57):
been crushing these guys all season. At some point they're like, Okay,
I gotta step up, I gotta earn my next contract
or whatever. But it's it is not going in the
way the defense was playing for a while and now
they've got gaps for the year. You know they now
they're gonna miss it. Arias Smith he's in Minnesota killing
it right now. Um I I just don't see them
(22:18):
being able to go on a type of run they
need to make to be to get into the playoffs.
You can't go out in the media and say you
gotta cut reps for guys and then throw to red
zone interceptions like he did, like and then throw three
overall and miss open guys all game. This is a
guy and it's weird Steve, because I'm watching the game
on Sunday and it's like he's still moving like Aaron Rodgers.
(22:38):
You see them some beautiful touch passes, and then he'll
just dirt balls or just miss a wide open deep
guy by under throwing and by three yards. He played
one of the worst games of his career in a
huge spot for that team. But unt like Josh Allen,
he didn't come to the podium and say, you know,
I played like Duki Emoji. You know that's something I
think you said. I never gave up. Well, great, Hey
(22:59):
what about the Rams should they give up? Well, they're
not gonna give up. I mean, it's not on their character.
They're defending Super Bowl Chane. They give up at the
end of that game after Jalen Ramsey gets sent back
on the field. The defense that that defensive scheming and
and just some of the efforts you saw where they're
giving up ten yard chunks when the when the Bucks
get the ball back with four or four seconds left,
Like what are you doing? Like you guys have stone
(23:20):
walled them all game and you're giving twelve an opportunity.
We've seen this before. Look at this. I mean, kay
Dotton was wide open, too easy, and then you allow
him to get up and get even additional yards. Now
you're don't you're not protecting the sidelines to the getting
out of bounds, you're playing twenty yards off of them.
Then you get the d p I, which is a
legit d p I, and then you play the run.
(23:42):
They're playing the run. They had no time out. Why
are you playing the run? And the Bucks haven't been
able to run the ball all the year, all game
they saw Bradies the quarterback. It's like, I don't. I'm
just wondering where, like the mental side and the physical
side where their lapses on both ends. And then when
Jalen Ramsey after the game speaks to that frustration about
we got the stop, we need some help get that's
(24:05):
another team where you wonder what's going on in the
locker room at this point, what's going on behind the scenes,
because this is the defensive Super Bowl champion that week
after week is getting pants and you say to yourself, Okay,
they're gonna get there, gonna show that metal of the
defending champion. Like you know, we're seeing the Bengals who
took the l they're starting to find themselves right with
despite all their offensive line issues which their Rams have.
(24:26):
Was despite some defensive lapses which the Rams have, They're
finding themselves whereas the Rams seemed to be coming apart.
I mean, this was an incredible opportunity. They had eight
three and ounce Bobby Wagner blocks a field goal in
the middle of the field where you can open up
your offense, and they go three and out. I mean,
and it is painful. It's not three yards in a
cloud of gust. It is one yard in a cloud
(24:47):
of nothing because there's no physicality involved. They're gonna screen
you to death because they're not trying anything downfield. Because
if you get that Matt Stafford is not gonna get protected,
which he didn't. You can't block it up. Vita Villa
look like the ground player in the world in that game.
Um So they have some issues and and you have
to ask yourself, can they can they rip off three
(25:08):
or four straight wins like you know, like you're gonna
need to do at some point, and you just don't know.
You just don't see them coming together like they need
to pull something. I remember this time around last year,
a lot of people were putting them underground when they
were in a slump and staff November he really struggled UM,
and they went and won the Super Bowl. I saw
a tweet out there. I wish I could remember who
(25:29):
set it out because I like the line the Rams
bought their title on credit. But now the bill has
come due. That's strong, that's strong, but both the bill
has come due now, it seems um. Let's talk about
in a year that's been defined in some part by
um bad quarterback play where you didn't expect it. Let's
suck justin fields. Let's tuck a field good story at
(25:50):
the quarterback position. It's unbelievable what he's doing week after week. Well,
look gets you. The offensive coordinator and a lot of
people told me coming in like this guy is really
really good, right, and you're starting to see him understand
the strength of his quarterback, the strength of his offensive line,
and the strength of the rest of the team. So
let's become the Baltimore Ravens. Let's do some things with
the blocking team where we're moving guys all over the place.
(26:11):
We can get justin fields to run behind them. We're
getting defenses and positions now where they've got to account
for him and away justin Fields can pull it back
and rip it. No one can question his throwing ability.
He can rip it. He was the top player coming
out of high school. You know, we saw the things
he did in college. But now they're tight ending him
right Cole Commet, they're doing some very creative things here
(26:32):
in the pocket. Now he just steps up boom. Look
at the strength right here, slips the tackle slips, the
tackle slips the tackle speed. Look at that. I mean,
the acceleration is insane and you're seeing Lamar Jackson, except
he's probably a little bit stronger, maybe not that much,
and he just let that ball go. His confidence right now. Um,
with the way they're playing, even though they lost to
(26:52):
the Dolphins, it is It is fun to see a
coach get to his quarterback and get to the offense
and to make it happen instead of trying to fit,
you know, a square peg into a round hole. The
issue is defensively, trade away your two best defensive players.
You know, Miami's gonna score thirty on everybody, but can
you hold up to support him on that side of
(27:12):
the ball. Yeah, And I think especially part of what
makes it a great story is that things did not
start out well this year, and there were questions like
is Fields coming along here? Is this gonna be a
thing that works? And now there's no question he is
the future and and looks like a guy that profiles
as a potential superstar and look out. So the Bears
obviously blew it up, blew up their defense. They're building
(27:33):
for tomorrow. But if they have a nice offseason, they
can get good real quick. And I'm talking maybe not,
but maybe they're a flying the ointment for teams this year,
but watch out in that division next year if they
make the right moves. Because Fields, you can build around
this dude. Lowing in Miami. You bringing the right coach,
he works at the quarterback, You get him going. You
fix the pieces on on defense because you've got some
(27:53):
ability to do so. I I completely agree with you.
Let's talk Raiders real quick, just because it's just a wild,
wild scene. Um, I don't know. I'm sure you saw it.
Car his comments after the game, he gave the old
there are things I want to say to you right now,
but I can't say to you. I need to talk inside,
all right, what what what are your vibes about this team?
(28:17):
Because blowing three seventeen point leads in one season and
it's not even close to Thanksgiving. Did you see the
stat they had five in the history of the organization
blowing three seventeen point leads and three this year. Here's
here's all I have to say, and I want to
people to process this last year, with everything they went through, injuries,
(28:37):
John Cruden getting fired, coaching change, they showed they had
the guts to overcome adversity. They showed they had a
talent to win ballgames. You were a playoff team last
year after everything could not have looked more of just
a five alarm fire. The nucleus of the team is
the same, and you add Davante Adams, who's not a
disruptive guy. Okay, So to me, the players have the
(29:02):
mental fortitude to be able to get through this. So
whatever Josh McDaniels and that staff has done, be it
schematic tweaks or whatever the way they're calling a ballgame,
that's the issue. And DeVante Adams came out and it
look how aggressive we were in the first half. Let
me call a different game in the second half, and
you saw what happened. So now you've got the players
not trusting in what's going on. You know, the old
(29:25):
saint don't ever say it can't get worse, because it
always came right. And we can ask the Indiapolis cold
to that. And I can understand Adam's specifically his frustration
because I think he was seven for one, six and
two in the first half and then he had one
catch for zero yards in the second. That said. You
could say schematics and all that, but if you watched
the game, you know you did. Steve car missed. He
(29:46):
missed so many throws in those lasting quarters, including several
to Davante Adams, it would have been a totally different game.
And that's that's part of this too. And I'm just wondering,
and you're as plugged in as anyone, Steve, like, is
there anything whispers out there? We've heard the oh Josh
is running late for his press comments because he has
to meet with the own or twice. Now, do you
think there's a hot seat here for No, there's no
(30:09):
way marks you to do that that that quickly, He'll
let McDaniels change up this roster and do whatever he
has to do on the coaching staff. If he's gonna
do anything before he blows him out about at the
quarterback position. I can't see it, but you never know.
You never know. Here's the other I'm just thinking in
the offseason, there's gonna be a lot more teams needing
quarterbacks than there were this year, and we saw the
(30:29):
type of movement because you know, Brady's probably really gonna retire.
Maybe Aaron Rodger steps away, so there's gonna be some
more teams involved. Who knows who they could even get
with that salary cap situation they have because of contracts.
You know who's enjoying this probably Rich How's how's that
working on in Green Bay for him? Though I don't think.
(30:50):
I don't think he's enjoying a whole lot right now.
Maybe he's not enjoying anything at all. Is anyone enjoying
anything in this NFL season? Let's check out Quad four
before we sign off. The Commanders, Man, they love Taylor Heineke.
They're channing is Aim and I don't quite get it,
but they like they are. They are twenty five. They
stay at five UM despite the loss. The Broncos stay
(31:12):
at twenty six, Jags up three spots, the twenty seven
Steelers down one. Uh on their by to eight lions
up to finally got that dub Cults down to to
thirty and they're down a head coach, but up an
analyst that's also in the head of the head coach.
The Texans up one out of the out of the
basement with the somewhat of a spirited effort on Thursday night,
(31:34):
and the Panthers listen, when you fall behind forty two
nothing um kind of tough sledding. It's it's probably gonna
be a bad situation for you when it comes power
rankings time. Let's start with the lines, will start with
the good and then we'll hit the mad um. Very nice.
It's just fun watching those postgame uh celebrations in the
locker room and in general to beat the Packers as well.
(31:56):
I was happy for the hard knocks lines. Yeah, I mean, look, offensively,
they're super fun to watch. But then you see defensively, um,
you know, for them to come up and make the
stops they make. I mean, we can we can blame
Aaron Rodgers for a lot of it, but defensively they
showed up. I mean this interception here, Hutchinson reads it beautifully.
Rogers throws you know five feet short on it, um,
(32:17):
But to see them come on and play like list.
I mean, they just fired a very good, very popular
dB coach and Aubrey Pleasant and I thought, like, man,
the players are not going to respond well to this,
and for them to give that type of effort in
this opponent, you'd love to see it again. You just
don't know if they can win two games here loose
one win three games Derek the rest of the way,
I'd like to see the springboard because one thing that
(32:38):
would kind of depress me because Connie and I did
the Hard Knocks podcast and UM in general followed this team,
and I just would like them to get to a
point where the season ends similar to last year, at
this point where they win about half their games, they're competitive,
and then we're not talking in January on Black Monday
about who's Dan Campbell gonna survive, Like, let's just let's
(32:59):
have some progress, let's build off something next year, and
then if it doesn't work after next year, then you
make a check. I think he makes it regardless, Um,
all right, the Frank Wrek didn't make it. Oh God,
what's your take on this whole thing? So not only
does Jimmer say it's kind of a maverick in the
owner ranks, and how he thinks it's one thing to
to fire your coach in the middle of the season,
(33:20):
it's another to bring in an old buddy who's a
team consultant who's working over in Connecticut and make him
your head coach in the middle of the year and
have a whole press conference and the whole thing. What
was your vibe on that. Let's look at the old
secret to events. I mean, okay, Matt, Matt Ryan, let go.
You fire the O C. Marcus Brady Um who doesn't
(33:41):
call plays, who basically orchestrates the practices, and me, you
fire him, right, things get worse. You put in a
rookie quarterback Sam Ailinger, right, Okay, So now, Frank Wreck,
we know he's on the green mile, so you you
make it, you make you make it a green you
make it a green football field, and you get rid
of him. But then you go outside. Okay, you've got
no play caller, you've got no quarterback developer. Oh and
(34:04):
then he said, we're gonna play the rookie. Still, We're
still gonna play him instead of Nick Foles or somebody. Well,
we've got no, what you bring in Jeff Shaturday, who
I love. I mean, I know Jeff personally, I love him.
This is nothing on him. The opportunity was here, He's like, okay,
I'll help you get to the first pick next year.
Because to me, that's what it looks like is going on.
How do you think John Fox and Gus Bradley and
anyone in that building fields right now? Like what I mean,
(34:26):
the wheels are falling off. Okay, we can see you
going outside the building and bringing Jim calledwell right, bringing
somebody who can calm things down, who we all respect,
who can call place and get a former player. Oh,
by the way, Reggie Wayne's on staff. You could have
go had him. I've seen a lot of crazy things
in the NFL, and this is sliding into the top
(34:47):
three or four. Yeah it is. There is that kind
of like um Al Davis type renegade vibe going on here,
like I'm not gonna do what everyone else does and
I need somebody could trust in this very vulnerable moment
for the organization. But you're right, there are a lot
of good, successful uh men on that coaching staff that
have to be like, I gotta get the hell out
of here. Oh yeah, and there's still you know, half
(35:09):
a season to go. And oh, by the way, they
have what three wins, they're not completely out of it
in that division. And but then the worst part is
when they say, you know, you have to play Ellinger
at the quarterback, and you feel bad for him now
because you've got no one there to develop him. You've
got no one. He's being put in a situation that's
gonna be absolutely tough for him playing Nick Foles. Just
(35:29):
go ahead and let him at least try to bring
some stability to an offense. It's right now. I just
you know, they're not playing well anyway, but you're putting
this You're putting this young guy in a horrible, horrible position.
It has just got to be so dispiriting in that
locker room and in that building. I don't I don't
know what Mercy is doing other than maybe pacifying his
(35:50):
own feelings. So now we have an owner being hands
on a football decisions. Very strange times, uh. In Indianapolis
and really in the whole of the NFL, it's been
a very kind of bizarre season. Hell, my Jets are
on the top ten of the power rings. Let's that
tell you about the unreal nature of this season. Steve,
You've said it all and you once again have pinched
(36:11):
hit for Colleen and just I mean we're talking five
and eight feet five ninety left center field bleachers, I'm
trying to do. I love your list, on your list,
You're You're the man. Colleen will be back next week.
Thank you for listening and watching along Heed the Call
(36:41):
NFL Power Rankings as a production of the NFL in
partnership with I heart Radio. For more podcasts from my
Heart Radio, visit the i heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts,
or wherever you get your podcasts.
Popular Podcasts
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Therapy Gecko
An unlicensed lizard psychologist travels the universe talking to strangers about absolutely nothing. TO CALL THE GECKO: follow me on https://www.twitch.tv/lyleforever to get a notification for when I am taking calls. I am usually live Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays but lately a lot of other times too. I am a gecko.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.